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Family reflects on fire that took home

A Richlands family has been displaced after a weekend fire at their home. Their house at 154 Batchelor Road was burnt in an early Saturday morning blaze.

Christopher Thomas/The Daily News

By CHRISTOPHER THOMAS - Daily News Staff

Published: Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 09:10 AM.

Chelvy Walton said the fire that took her home of 37 years started with a lighter and a lost sleeping pill.

“I dropped a sleeping pill and I was trying to find it,” Walton said. “I couldn’t find a flashlight so I found a lighter and flicked it a few times. That’s when the lighter blew up. It was like someone poured gasoline on it.”

Walton said the March 22 fire quickly spread from there and though the Nine Mile Volunteer Fire Department arrived soon after the emergency call was put in at approximately 2:30 a.m., the damage was done and the house, located at 154 Batchelor Road, where Walton and her husband raised their two sons was uninhabitable.

Walton, who is still receiving treatment in Chapel Hill for the burns she sustained in the fire, said the questions surrounding the aftermath still hang heavy over her and her family.

“I feel lost,” Walton said. “I don’t know what to do or where to turn. I don’t know anything. It’s hard to think about it because you look forward to going home, but you know it’s never going to happen again. It’s all you can think about.”

Walton said she sustained burns on her face, back and neck due to the fire and received skin grafts for her burns. According to her, the grafts are setting in well and she should be discharged by Wednesday. Her son, Joseph, who suffered injuries due to smoke inhalation, was released on Sunday, March 30.

Walton said, though, that once they return to their home county, the issue of where they’ll go is still a mystery. The Waltons’ did not have homeowners insurance and Walton said finding a new home for themselves may not be easy.

“We’re going to have to find a new place to live,” Walton said “We won’t be able to return to the house. We haven’t even been able to salvage anything. Everything’s been burnt up.”

According to Walton, gas cards for the trip back to Onslow County have been provided by the University of North Carolina Hospitals and shelter for Walton’s husband, Troy, has been provided by the American Red Cross. Troy Walton did not sustain any injures related to the fire.

Like her husband, Chelvy Walton said the fact that everyone in the house, including the family dog, Peanut, got out alive is enough for her to feel grateful.

“I am ever so grateful,” Chelvy Walton said. “They said if we had been in that house a few more minutes, we would’ve all been dead.”

The Waltons said no official funds have been set up for for the family as of late Monday, but Troy Walton said those wanting to send their support and sympathies can do so by writing to 123 Hewitt Road in Richlands, NC 28574, the home of their oldest son, Timothy. Chelvy Walton said despite the injuries and loss, the Nine Mile community will be there for them.

“The way the people in our neighborhood are ... they care about our people,” Chelvy Walton said. “When someone hurts, we all hurt. When there’s a death in the family, it’s like a death in our family. When someone’s house burns down, like ours did, we come together and help them find a new place to stay. We’ve got good people here.”

Troy Walton said it “feels great” to know he’ll be coming home to familiar faces and said he’s looking forward to having a strong cup of coffee on Thursday morning at the Manna Cafe and Grill, located less than one block from their home. He said he plans on looking into purchasing a doublewide trailer for his family and that returning to Onslow County is will be the start of returning to normalcy. Until they’re able to buy the trailer, Chelvy Walton said she, her husband and her son will be staying with family in the area.

“It’ll be good to get back home and getting things settled down again,” Troy Walton said. “I’m sure looking forward to it.”

Jeremy Holley, the fire rescue coordinator for Onslow County said the investigation on the fire is ongoing.

Christopher Thomas is a staff writer for the Daily News. To contact him, send an e-mail to christopher.thomas@jdnews.com. For online subscription information, click here.

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Chelvy Walton said the fire that took her home of 37 years started with a lighter and a lost sleeping pill.

“I dropped a sleeping pill and I was trying to find it,” Walton said. “I couldn’t find a flashlight so I found a lighter and flicked it a few times. That’s when the lighter blew up. It was like someone poured gasoline on it.”

Walton said the March 22 fire quickly spread from there and though the Nine Mile Volunteer Fire Department arrived soon after the emergency call was put in at approximately 2:30 a.m., the damage was done and the house, located at 154 Batchelor Road, where Walton and her husband raised their two sons was uninhabitable.

Walton, who is still receiving treatment in Chapel Hill for the burns she sustained in the fire, said the questions surrounding the aftermath still hang heavy over her and her family.

“I feel lost,” Walton said. “I don’t know what to do or where to turn. I don’t know anything. It’s hard to think about it because you look forward to going home, but you know it’s never going to happen again. It’s all you can think about.”

Walton said she sustained burns on her face, back and neck due to the fire and received skin grafts for her burns. According to her, the grafts are setting in well and she should be discharged by Wednesday. Her son, Joseph, who suffered injuries due to smoke inhalation, was released on Sunday, March 30.

Walton said, though, that once they return to their home county, the issue of where they’ll go is still a mystery. The Waltons’ did not have homeowners insurance and Walton said finding a new home for themselves may not be easy.

“We’re going to have to find a new place to live,” Walton said “We won’t be able to return to the house. We haven’t even been able to salvage anything. Everything’s been burnt up.”

According to Walton, gas cards for the trip back to Onslow County have been provided by the University of North Carolina Hospitals and shelter for Walton’s husband, Troy, has been provided by the American Red Cross. Troy Walton did not sustain any injures related to the fire.

Like her husband, Chelvy Walton said the fact that everyone in the house, including the family dog, Peanut, got out alive is enough for her to feel grateful.

“I am ever so grateful,” Chelvy Walton said. “They said if we had been in that house a few more minutes, we would’ve all been dead.”

The Waltons said no official funds have been set up for for the family as of late Monday, but Troy Walton said those wanting to send their support and sympathies can do so by writing to 123 Hewitt Road in Richlands, NC 28574, the home of their oldest son, Timothy. Chelvy Walton said despite the injuries and loss, the Nine Mile community will be there for them.

“The way the people in our neighborhood are ... they care about our people,” Chelvy Walton said. “When someone hurts, we all hurt. When there’s a death in the family, it’s like a death in our family. When someone’s house burns down, like ours did, we come together and help them find a new place to stay. We’ve got good people here.”

Troy Walton said it “feels great” to know he’ll be coming home to familiar faces and said he’s looking forward to having a strong cup of coffee on Thursday morning at the Manna Cafe and Grill, located less than one block from their home. He said he plans on looking into purchasing a doublewide trailer for his family and that returning to Onslow County is will be the start of returning to normalcy. Until they’re able to buy the trailer, Chelvy Walton said she, her husband and her son will be staying with family in the area.

“It’ll be good to get back home and getting things settled down again,” Troy Walton said. “I’m sure looking forward to it.”

Jeremy Holley, the fire rescue coordinator for Onslow County said the investigation on the fire is ongoing.

Christopher Thomas is a staff writer for the Daily News. To contact him, send an e-mail to christopher.thomas@jdnews.com. For online subscription information, click here.